Curiously, one of the best depictions of how seeing changes everything comes in the loopy but lovely movie "Field of Dreams" (1989). For those who haven't viewed it, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) uproots his lucrative cornfield and puts in a baseball diamond to which long-dead players mysteriously come. Ray, his wife, his daughter, and a disillusioned author can see the players, but no one else can.
Since the field of dreams is not producing a cash crop, Ray is going bankrupt. His brother-in-law pressures him to sell the farm. Through a startling event, the brother-in-law, who was blind, suddenly can see the players on the field. His immediately transformed advice: "Don't sell this farm, Ray. Do not sell this farm."
When we see the array of forces lined up against Jesus and those who try to follow him, we are often tempted to sell the farm. That's when we need especially to pray that our eyes be opened, so that we can see what Elisha urges: "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
Marvin Olasky
Marvin Olasky is editor-in-chief of the national news magazine World. For additional commentary by Marvin Olasky, visit www.worldmag.com.
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